Spotlight On: John Newstreet, President & CEO, The Osceola Chamber
September 2024 — Invest: spoke to President and CEO of The Osceola Chamber John Newstreet about the chamber’s efforts to create a more prosperous regional economy, its contributions to NeoCity, and why Osceola County is a great place to live, play, and do business.
What have been some of the chamber’s successes in recent years?
We have had a number of internal successes we’re proud of, including being Chamber of the Year three times. We’re also five-star-accredited with the U.S. Chamber, which is the high watermark for best practices. Only about 1% of chambers across the country achieve that designation. This internal achievement indicates that we’re doing things the way we’re supposed to, enabling us to have a bigger impact externally.
Externally, it’s easy for us to say, “We’ll take credit for this,” but again, it’s never ours alone. In the 10 years I’ve been here, we’ve seen early successes with NeoCity, which is just across the street. It represents the establishment of a third primary industry. Osceola has always been known for agriculture and, since the 1970s, for tourism. We were a two-bucket economy with agriculture and tourism. NeoCity brings a whole third high-wage element in the semiconductor technology space. This benefits not just Osceola but also the region, the state, and the country because it plays a role in the geopolitical space of semiconductors, often referred to as the new oil. We do like to think we’ve played a part. NeoCity is probably the most significant thing our community has seen.
Additionally, having Valencia College establish two campuses here, right next to us, and down in Poinciana, is significant. Volunteer leadership has helped in bringing Valencia’s presence here, which has aided our workforce and everything Valencia does for the community. Poinciana has the HCA hospital, and I know some of my business leaders had a big hand in getting that established, as did the Poinciana Parkway.
How are your efforts progressing to meet the needs of current members and grow your membership base with a diverse group of companies?
I’ll talk about diversity in terms of industry. In the past, I worked in politics for three U.S. senators, a member of the U.S. House, and a county commissioner in Broward County. Before that, I was the state director of the American Legion in Florida, focusing on care for veterans, which I am still passionate about. That’s one reason we have the Warrior Coalition. In politics, you often have a singular focus, like supporting veterans. Our chamber, however, has a diverse industry breakdown. Our largest industry percentage is 16% in professional services, such as lawyers, accountants, and engineers. This diversity means we’re not controlled by any one entity, allowing us to address various industry needs and foster cooperation.
All members can help each other. For instance, when discussing tourism, we also engage other industries that either support tourism or are stakeholders. This way, we ensure a broad representation and consensus on important issues. Through the processes established with our five-star accreditation, all members have a voice and come to a consensus on significant matters.
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What attracts both businesses and families to the county as a place to live and do business?
When I worked for the commissioner in Broward, we had weekly meetings with huge stacks of paper and over 100 agenda items, dealing with the airport, Port Everglades, and the arena where the Panthers play. It’s different here in Osceola, but the growth is fast-paced, bringing both opportunities and frustrations. In Broward, the infrastructure was already in place. Here, we’re figuring out how quickly we can get infrastructure in place to accommodate growth.
I tell my members in orientation that they’re in the right place at the right time. You might have to sit an extra cycle at the traffic light, but that means there’s more pockets with money in them for those wanting to do business with you. Being part of the chamber means having a voice in the process of prioritizing issues for your business. We have a great relationship with governmental leaders to work out issues. While we don’t always get our way, there are a lot of exciting things happening here.
When I first arrived, I was part of a group that was aiming to attract a minor league baseball team, the Braves affiliate from Viera, to Kissimmee. Consultants told us that within an hour’s drive of Kissimmee, there are 72 different attractions. It’s not just about filling an arena because it’s the only thing happening in town. Here, there’s a lot to do: arts, theme parks, and attractions for everyone. Central Florida offers more for families and businesses. We have up-and-coming school systems and a diversified economy on the rise.
Is the funding pipeline secured in the long term, or would a change in administration impact those plans, such as for NeoCity?
I don’t have a crystal ball, but my experience in politics tells me it’s never a safe pipeline. With global pressures on semiconductors, we need a lot of support. NeoCity is happening and operational, but going from good to great requires collaboration and ongoing support from Congress and our congressional delegation. Changes in administration, policies, and global competition are variables we need to consider for future funding.
What are you trying to accomplish with the Leadership Osceola program in terms of future generations of leadership and tackling significant issues?
Our leadership program, housed under our foundation, is more immersive than others. We engage participants in understanding community challenges and developing leadership skills. We’re not just educating them but calling them to action, helping them be more informed and confident to act.
We’re also exploring ways to keep alumni engaged with updates on relevant topics. Our planning committee aims to make the program even more robust and crucial for participants. One significant talking point in Osceola County is the urban growth boundary, defining where development can occur. Osceola has a lot of developable land, and we’re planning for growth to avoid surprises. The county has taken steps to accommodate growth, ensuring a master-planned approach for infrastructure and services.
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